If you’re looking for a creepy hike in Tennessee, then you need to wander through Big Ridge State Park. Located roughly 15 miles from Norris Lake State Park, Big Ridge is just under 4,000 acres and is tucked away in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley range. The park may be one of Tennessee’s smallest, but it also boasts a big history by way of the Indian Rock and Big Ridge Trails. Hike them both and you will have the chance to experience a little spine-tingling local history.

Julie Ratledge/ AllTrails
You will find Indian Rock and Big Ridge trails in Maynardville, Tennessee, a small town tucked away by both Norris and Big Ridge Lakes. Located due north of Knoxville, you can expect beautiful East Tennessee weather and scenery. The trails can be hiked together or separately, but if you link the two you will be able to wander an abandoned cemetery and bear witness to a historic murder site.
Joy Whited - AllTrails
Expect to gain roughly 1,300 feet in elevation and be prepared for muddy conditions if there have been recent rains. The loop trails are maintained, but the rural reality of the location means that mud and rocky stretches are likely. Hikers are welcomed throughout the year, so just make sure to prepare for the weather and conditions.
Alice Simpson - AllTrails
There is a dark story to Indian Rock Trail, however. The area was once the site of a deadly ambush, and there is a plaque that honors the pioneer settler who was killed. Peter Graves lost his life between these two boulders.
Susan Shafer - AllTrails
When you begin the Indian Rock Loop you can choose to go to the left, which will take you down Big Ridge to Norris Lake, or you can turn to the right and follow the ridgetop to Indian Rock and eventually to the Langley Cemetery.

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Garrett Bledsoe - AllTrails
If you connect Indian Rock Trail to Big Valley Trail, an easy addition, then you will also have the chance to visit the Langley Cemetery. Tucked away in the woods, you will see the graves of the area’s earliest settlers.
Amanda DuBose - AllTrails
The Langley Cemetery was initiated in September of 1926 when Edward P. Loy was buried. Though it’s an eerie thing, to see a cemetery tucked away off the main path, this particular graveyard is considered young in comparison to the state’s history.
Jessica Richmond-Collins - AllTrails
Big Ridge State Park has over 15 miles of hiking trails that take you through the rural beauty of the area. Free trail maps are available for whoever visits the park office, and you can also inquire after overnight camping if daytime fun simply isn’t enough.
Demetrios Stavracos - AllTrails
Have you hiked through Big Ridge State Park? Will you be taking a historic hike sometime soon?

What a wild place to hike! Did you know that Big Ridge State Park had such an interesting history? A helpful tool that we always use when we hit the trails is a little app called AllTrails, this is a must-use app for any avid hiker. Check out the info about the Big Valley Trail to Indian Rock Trail for everything you while out adventuring on this creepy trail. You can learn more about the state park and its creepy hiking trails on its official Big Ridge State Park website.

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More to Explore

Creepy Places In Tennessee

Chris Dodge | September 07, 2023

What are some of the best creepy places in Tennessee?

From hauntings to just plain eerie we have some great creepy places in Tennessee here are a few of our favorites.

  • Watauga Lake: With a whole town lying under the depths of the water. 
  • The Tennessee State Prison: Left nearly abandoned and left for decay there is something beautiful and haunting about this castle-like structure. 
  • The Old Gray Cemetery: A beautiful graveyard but lurking in the shadows is a dark aspiration who doesn’t like visitors. 
  • The Tennessee Capitol Building: More than just politics the building is said to be haunted by several ghosts. 
  • The Thomas House Hotel: With a dark history this is said to be the most haunted location not just in Tennessee but in the United States. 
  • The Body Farm: Knoxville hosts a dead body farm where they conduct several experiments for forensic scenic. You read that right they have dozens of dead bodies just lying around, you know for science.  

 

What are some good creepy hikes in Tennessee?

 

What are the creepiest cemeteries in Tennessee?

Not many things are scarier than an old graveyard, so here are some of the creepiest cemeteries in Tennessee:

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Big Ridge State Park, 1015 Big Ridge Park Rd, Maynardville, TN 37807, USA